Chapter 01: Reunion
Written by: DreamerofClouds

***

Author's Note:

Hello, my darlings!

Here is the next chapter of [x] What If... [x] I hope you guys enjoy it, because I definitely had a lot of fun writing it! A couple note s before you guys go on, though:

1. In the Hunter x Hunter anime series - both 1999 and 2011 versions - Leorio's childhood friend, Pietro, died at a very early age. However, in the Hunter x Hunter manga series, Togashi-sensei showed the readers that Leorio and Pietro made it well into their teens before the latter passed away. Thus, insinuating that Leorio's dream to become a doctor was a fairly recent decision.

2. In order to avoid confusion, and because it fits my story line better, I will be going with the manga version for Leorio's childhood.

3. Also, Pietro did not have an official last name. I just picked one out that matched his first name well. (Or, at least, I think so). If you guys have any suggestions, I'll be more than glad to take it!

Now that I've said all that I needed, I hope you find much entertainment in the following chapter. As always, any questions, comments, criticisms, complaints are welcome. Feel free to PM me or leave a note at the bottom.

Sincerely yours,

DreamerofClouds

***

Leorio's P.O.V.

***

You know, I never expected things to turn out like this. I always thought that people had a choice in whom they fell in love with.

Always.

Guess my damn karma loved to prove me wrong.

I mean, how else could I explain my love for Arie? The 24-year-old girl had somehow weaseled her way into my heart and made me an idiot.

Despite the fact that she was older, despite the fact that she was an assassin and despite the fact that she was already engaged, I still found a way to look past her loud mouth, obnoxious personality and tomboyish nature.

Even though I knew she could never belong to me - and would never belong to me - I still fell in love with her.

Before I met Arie, I thought my ideal woman would be small, sweet, cute and romantic. The type to cook lunch for me every day and greet me with hugs and kisses as soon as I came home from work. A charming darling, you know?

But no.

My affections - it was beyond my control. Sort of made me wonder that the hell I did in order to deserve this kind of torture.

***

I slapped myself.

Again.

Again.

And again.

Before you guys think that I'm crazy, let me just say - I have a very good reason for this. I have been sitting on my couch for the past fifteen minutes, doing absolutely nothing.

Well, okay.

That last part's not exactly true.

I have been doing something: giving myself a pep-talk. And before you guys think I'm definitely crazy, let me restate that I still have a perfectly good reason for this.

I've been antisocial for the past week since I've moved here.

No friends, no phone, no nothing.

Just little ol' me and my blossoming pot-belly.

I think I may have gained five pounds, I thought distastefully. Which is a definite, legit reason as to why I need to get out.

"Alright," I slapped my hands down on my knees, finally motivated. "Let's do this. I'm finally gonna get out of this apartment!!"

I stood up.

...

...

...

Then, I sat back down.

"But what if people don't like me?" I asked, spontaneity completely gone. I sat in that couch for another thirty minutes, debating on life and its complicated shit.

***

Emerson Grace Hospital.

The best hospital that the world has to offer.

Equipped with the finest doctors, professors and devices anyone has ever known, it was the perfect place for me to start my career. Rumor has it that this place is so competitive, so high-standard, that the founder of the hospital was kicked out for being unable to keep up with his medical studies.

In all honesty, it made me really nervous. So much that I almost pissed my pants just by looking at the gigantic, white-marble building.

"You can do this, Leorio," I told myself, bouncing on the balls of my feet. (You know, like what boxers do before they hit someone). "There's no backing out of this now."

Taking in a deep breath, I stood up, cocked my head and puffed my chest out. And I walked into the hospital like it was no one's business.

As soon as I stepped through the hospital's sliding doors, several heads turned to look up at me. Most of them looked surprised.

I couldn't help but smirk.

Yeah, that's right, I thought smugly. I'm gonna get into this hospital, easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy...

I mean, how hard could it be?

I have my Hunter's license after all.

And that practically grants me access and admittance to anything I wanted. What are the chances that it won't work here?

I marched up to the Welcoming Center and cleared my throat.

"Ahem," I grunted.

The receptionist - a pretty blonde with blue eyes - didn't pay any attention to me. Which made me wonder.

Maybe she didn't hear me, I thought. Deciding that that was the most likely reason, I cleared my throat again - a little louder this time. "Ahem."

Still no response.

She kept typing on her computer.

One more time, I thought.

"AHEM -"

"Can you shut up for one sec?" the receptionist rudely interrupted me. "I'm trying to finish something up."

"Excuse me?" I asked, trying to keep my smile friendly. (Though, in all honesty, I can feel the vein pulsating on my forehead). "What did you just -"

"Are you deaf as you are ugly?" the receptionist rolled her eyes, before giving me a disapproving look. "Go sit down and I'll call you whenever I'm done."

I scowled. Well, aren't you a jerk...

"Fine," I huffed, crossing my arms. "But don't keep me waiting too long."

"And why is that?" she asked, voice dry of humor.

"Because," I explained confidently. "One of these days I'll be your boss!"

The blonde receptionist stopped typing.

Ha! I laughed smugly. That'll teach her to mouth off to me.

Turning in her seat so that she's facing me, the receptionist - whose name tag read Toma - leaned over, propped her elbows on the desk and pushed her glasses down so she could look me directly in the eye.

Toma opened her mouth and - just as I expected her to apologize for her terrible customer service - something foul came out of her mouth.

"You're a dumbass," she said bluntly. "We don't hire dumbasses to work at our hospital."

"Excuse me?!" I scowled, ready to go ballistic on her sorry butt. "I'll have you know that I'm not a dumbass and that I have the proper credentials to be your boss!!"

"Tch," Toma crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. "Let's see your credentials then, dumbass."

"Fine!" I said, slamming my briefcase down on the desk and opening it up. "And stop calling me dumbass!"

She rolled her eyes.

Rummaging through rolls of gauze, tape and packs of thread and needle, I searched for the one thing that would prove my worth to her. When I found it, a great big smile spread across my lips.

"Here," I shoved my Hunter's license in her face. "This should be enough proof to you that I'm worthy."

Toma stared at it.

"That's worthless around here," she said, prior to pushing her glasses up and giving me a significant look. "Unlike most organizations and hospitals, Emerson Grace only accepts the best, the brightest, and the most talented."

She gave my license a condescending glare. "Not some piece of plastic that you get from showing how buff you are."

"Piece of plastic?!" I completely lost my cool. "I'll have you know that I nearly lost my life multiple times in order to get this!"

"Which is why you're a dumbass," she replied.

I wanted nothing more than to yell at how unfair all of this was, but doing so would cause unwanted attention. If anything, several patients and nurses were spilling from the waiting room into the Welcome Center just to see what was going on.

Unsatisfied, I returned my license to my briefcase and shut it close.

"Fine," I muttered grumpily. "If you don't accept Hunter licenses, then how do you get into the training program?"

"Finally, a smart question," she said sarcastically.

I ignored her comment.

"There are one of three ways that you can get into Emerson Grace," she explained. "The first is to pass the entrance exam."

"Easy!" I slapped my hand down confidently. "When can I take it?"

"We just passed our spring deadline, so the next available time would be six months from now," Toma rolled her eyes again. (I'm starting to think that's a habit of hers). "And even if you passed the one six months from now, it takes a year of processing before the review panel decides whether you make it in or not. Most of the time, applicants won't."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"It's a hard exam, dumbass," she explained, bluntly.

"Okay," After I took a deep breath, I exhaled calmly. (More anti-stress and self-help methods). "What's the second option then?"

"A+ grades and a high GPA," she continued on. "You must submit legitimate documentation - such as transcripts and diplomas - to Emerson Grace's review panel for discussion. Minimum GPA for entrance and transfer is 3.7. Scores may be no less than a high A - around 97.0% - in every class you have taken. That includes the art classes and intro to computer classes that you thought no one would ever look at."

I scowled. Dammit...

Not only were my grades crap in English for all four years in school, but I didn't even graduate with a diploma. I ended up dropping out of senior high after...

...After Pietro died, I thought bitterly.

Toma pursed her lips. "Judging from the look on your face, it looks like that's not a good option for you either."

"...Yeah," I muttered dejectedly. "What's the third option?"

"The third?" she paused for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to phrase it. "A well-trusted and highly-revered member of Emerson Grace recommends you for entrance."

I relaxed a bit. "Sounds easy enough."

"Not really," she rolled her eyes yet again. "Most of the people here - doctors, nurses, interns - are all trying to make a name for themselves. They're all very judgmental. The last thing our employees want is for one of their wacky-tacky, loony goofball buddies to embarrass them and have it reflect badly on their reputation."

"Really..." I sighed, trying to ease my frustration. I didn't realize it was so hard to get into this place...

"Besides," Toma brushed her long bangs behind her ear, completely oblivious to my internal despair. "Only a select few are permitted to study and work in our hospital. I doubt you know anyone here."

I clenched my fists, upset. This is so unfair!!

I mean, what the hell?!

I risked my life to take the Hunter exam so it could be easier to apply to medical school. Yet, the only one that I wanted to get into doesn't even accept my license?!

Oh, fnck me...

I honestly don't know how this day could get any worse.

"Leorio?" a voice asked.

I snapped out of my train of thought and turned in the direction of the person who called me.

Standing two feet away from me was a small girl.

About five feet, two inches, she had long, mousy brown hair, chocolate brown eyes and pale skin. Her large, blocky glasses were awkwardly placed on her face and the blue scrubs she had on were clearly two sizes too big on her.

But I still recognized her.

Hell, she could be wearing a burlap sack and I'd still recognize her!

"G-Gen..." I barely got the words out.

My voice caught in my throat, I opened and closed my mouth repeatedly 'cause I couldn't find the right words to say. I probably looked like a stupid catfish kept out of water for too long, but I didn't care.

I mean, how could I?

This girl standing in front of me was Iphegeneia "Gen" Mirabella. My late best friend Pietro Mirabella's younger sister.

For a moment, Gen's eyes grew wide and we simply held each other's gaze. It felt like it lasted forever.

Then, she lowered her head. Her shoulders began shaking uncontrollably, almost as if she were crying.

Beside us, Toma leaned over and ducked down a bit to see under Gen's bangs.

"Dr. Mirabella?" she asked. "Are you okay?"

We ignored her.

"Gen?" I repeated, voice a little more confident this time. "Is that really you?"

No response, but I didn't care. I already knew the answer to my question. Besides, who else could this girl be, aside from Gen? She called out to me by name.

She must know me.

It has to be her.

"Oh my god, Gen!" I threw my arms around her and held her tight...for three seconds.

Instead of receiving a hug, I got sucker punched in the gut fairly quickly. Blistering pain broke all over my abdomen as her fist knocked the wind out of me.

Before I knew it, I was sprawled on the ground, spread-eagle before my childhood friend's sister. The girl oozed malice and anger from every existent pore of her body.

I started to get up from the ground.

"Gen?" I asked, confused.

"Go to hell, asshole," she muttered.

And just like that, she picked up her foot and dug her heel deep in my crotch.

Again.

And again.

And again.